Energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers. More specifically, the high-temperature vapor refrigerant in the refrigeration system is condensed using 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank. This invention relates to an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system using 3 stage condensation heat exchangers in place of a conventional refrigeration condenser.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers. More specifically, the high-temperature vapor refrigerant in the refrigeration system is condensed using a 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank. This invention relates to an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system using a 3 stage condensation heat exchangers in place of a conventional refrigeration condenser.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Generally, a refrigeration system can be operated by circulation of 4 steps of cooling cycle, that are, compression of refrigerant, condensation, expansion and evaporation accompanied with heat exchange. Therefore, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator have been required and equipped in the refrigeration system.

The low pressure of vapor refrigerant has been compressed in the compressor. Then, the compressed high pressure and high temperature vapor refrigerant has been condensed in the condenser with discharging condensation waste heat to the outside. Therefore, the continuous consumption of condensation waste heat has been required, which can be regarded as inefficient in the respect of energy saving.

The flow of liquid refrigerant from condenser has been controlled and the refrigerant has been expanded through passing the expansion valve. Then, the liquid refrigerant has been evaporated and converted into vapor phase refrigerant in the evaporator where the ambient heat has been absorbed for supplying evaporation heat energy, which can cause the generation of frost outside of evaporator according to the absorption of ambient heat energy.

The temperature of outer surface of evaporator becomes lower due to the absorption of ambient heat energy. Therefore, the condensed moisture from relatively hot and humid ambient air shall stick to the outer surface of evaporator, which causes the formation of frost on the outer surface of evaporator.

Further, the frost formed on the outer surface of evaporator becomes thicker over lapse of time. Accordingly, the efficiency of evaporation heat exchange becomes lower, which causes the decline of refrigeration heat efficiency as well as the excessive consumption of electric power.

The low-temperature and low-pressure vapor refrigerant recovered from the evaporator shall be circulated into the compressor to repeat the refrigeration cycle.

The present inventor has already disclosed a defrosting system using condensation waste heat energy through following patent disclosure.

In Korean Patent No. 10-1525530 ‘Apparatus and method for defrosting the refrigerator using condensation waste heat energy’, the condensation waste heat is absorbed through the absorption pipe in the course of heat exchange. Then, the waste heat is recovered and stored in the condensation waste heat storage chamber. Then, the brine for defrost is heated and supplied using the condensation waste heat stored in the condensation waste heat storage chamber.

However, for maintaining the condensation waste heat storage chamber disclosed in this patent disclosure, it has been required that the condensation waste heat energy should be continuously supplied and stored to the chamber. Unless waste heat energy is sufficiently supplied or stored, there has been a risk of partially shut down of defrosting apparatus.

In order to solve such problems, the present inventor has developed 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank in place of conventional condenser and/or heat storage tank. Further, the brine tank in the present invention makes it possible to convert the remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into the vapor refrigerant by heating it, before circulating it into the compressor. Therefore, the present invention has completed an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

The problem to be solved is to develop 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank in place of conventional condenser and/or heat storage tank. Further, the present inventor has tried to develop the brine tank for converting the remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into the vapor refrigerant by heating it, before circulating it into the compressor. Therefore, the present inventor has tried to develop an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

The object of present invention is to provide an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers comprising: i) a refrigerant circulating the refrigeration system; ii) a refrigeration apparatus including compressor (1); iii) 3 stage condensation heat exchangers including tubular tube (3), condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5); iv) an evaporator (7), outer surface of which the frost to be generating and defrosting, v) a brine circulating the defrosting system; and vi) a defrosting apparatus including brine tank (5); wherein said 3 stage condensation heat exchangers make the refrigerant to be condensing in normal refrigeration operation with the steps comprising: a) supplying 90 to 95° C. of high temperature vapor refrigerant from the compressor (1), b) cooling vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C. through tubular tube (3), c) preliminarily heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and d) main heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to be 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank (5).

Further, the preliminary heat exchange between condensation heat and water is carried out in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and the main heat exchange between condensation heat and brine is also carried out in the brine tank (5).

Further, said brine tank (5) has a dual function in refrigeration system comprising: i) heat exchange between refrigerant and brine; and ii) conversion of remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into vapor refrigerant.

Further, said defrosting system is operated with the steps comprising: a) supplying brine pipe outside of evaporator (7) with heated brine from brine tank (5); b) defrosting the frost with supplied brine heat; c) recovering the brine from brine pipe to condensation heat exchange tank (4); d) preliminarily heat exchanging the recovered brine with condensation waste heat in the condensation heat exchange tank (4); e) heat exchanging and storing the heated brine in the brine tank (5) to be 35 to 40° C. of brine; and f) repeatedly circulating the brine for operating defrosting system.

Further, said brine is mixture of water and propylene glycol (PG).

Further, the determination of refrigeration operation or defrosting operation is made by the processor in the control panel after processing the data from sensors.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT

The advantageous effect of present invention is to provide 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank in place of conventional condenser and/or heat storage tank. Further, it also provides the brine tank for converting the remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into the vapor refrigerant by heating it, before circulating it into the compressor. Therefore, the present invention provides an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for illustrating the energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers of the present invention.

In detail, the total structure of refrigeration system can comprise i) high temperature and high pressure vapor refrigerant compressed in compressor (1) is cooled and condensed into liquid refrigerant through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers; ii) liquid refrigerant is evaporated in evaporator (7) absorbing the surrounding heat energy; iii) the brine in brine tank (5) is heated by vapor refrigerant from evaporator; iv) low temperature and low pressure of vapor refrigerant is recovered into compressor (1) and it is compressed for cycling.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for illustrating 3 stage condensation heat exchangers including tubular tube (3), condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5) of the present invention.

Further, this figure shows 3 stage condensation heat exchangers including: supplying 90 to 95° C. of high temperature vapor refrigerant from the compressor (1), firstly cooling vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C. through tubular tube (3), heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and further heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to be 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank (5).

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for showing the functions of the condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5) of the present invention.

The preliminary heat exchange between condensation heat and water is carried out in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and the main heat exchange between condensation heat and brine is also carried out in the brine tank (5). Further, brine tank (5) in refrigeration system has a dual function including i) heat exchange between refrigerant and brine; and ii) conversion of remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into vapor refrigerant.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for illustrating the refrigeration system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view for illustrating the defrosting system of the present invention.

Defrosting system is operated with the steps comprising: a) supplying brine pipe outside of evaporator (7) with heated brine from brine tank (5); b) defrosting the frost with supplied brine heat; c) recovering the brine from brine pipe to condensation heat exchange tank (4); d) preliminarily heat exchanging the recovered brine with condensation waste heat in the condensation heat exchange tank (4); e) heat exchanging and storing the heated brine in the brine tank (5) to be 35 to 40° C. of brine; and f) repeatedly circulating the brine for operating defrosting system.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

1: compressor

2: oil separator

3: tubular tube

4: condensation heat exchange tank

5: brine tank

6: liquid refrigerant chamber

7: evaporator

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers comprising: i) a refrigerant circulating the refrigeration system; ii) a refrigeration apparatus including compressor (1); iii) 3 stage condensation heat exchangers including tubular tube (3), condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5); iv) an evaporator (7), outer surface of which the frost to be generating and defrosting, v) a brine circulating the defrosting system; and vi) a defrosting apparatus including brine tank (5); wherein said 3 stage condensation heat exchangers make the refrigerant to be condensing in normal refrigeration operation with the steps comprising: a) supplying 90 to 95° C. of high temperature vapor refrigerant from the compressor (1), b) cooling vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C. through tubular tube (3), c) preliminarily heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and d) main heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to be 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank (5).

The present invention can be explained more specifically in reference to attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for illustrating the energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the total structure of refrigeration system can comprise i) high temperature and high pressure vapor refrigerant compressed in compressor (1) is cooled and condensed into liquid refrigerant through 3 stage condensation heat exchangers; ii) liquid refrigerant is evaporated in evaporator (7) absorbing the surrounding heat energy; iii) the brine in brine tank (5) is heated by vapor refrigerant from evaporator; iv) low temperature and low pressure of vapor refrigerant is recovered into compressor (1) and it is compressed for cycling.

In refrigeration system, 3 stage condensation heat exchangers can be operated with following steps of: i) supplying 90 to 95° C. of high temperature vapor refrigerant from the compressor, ii) firstly cooling vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C. through tubular tube, iii) heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank, and iv) further heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to be 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank.

The brine for defroster can be heated by the waste heat energy in the course of the condensation process. Therefore, the present invention can accomplish the energy saving in refrigeration and defrosting system.

In detail, the waste heat energy has been recovered and heat exchanged to heat the brine in the course of condensing the vapor refrigerant. Further, the remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator is converted into vapor refrigerant in the brine tank (5).

The functions of 3 stage condensation heat exchangers such as a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank can be explained as follows.

Vapor refrigerant compressed in compressor has been passing through oil separator (2) for removing oil component in the vapor refrigerant. Then, 90 to 95° C. of vapor refrigerant is passing through tubular tube (3) having a helical shape for firstly cooling the vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C.

In the second step, 80 to 85° C. of firstly cooled vapor refrigerant is secondly cooled and heat exchanged into 50 to 60° C. of refrigerant in the condensation heat exchange tank (4). In this step, the vapor refrigerant has been preliminarily condensed into liquid refrigerant. The heat generated in the course of condensation can heat the water to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank (4). On the other hand, the heated water in the condensation heat exchange tank (4) can heat the 4 to 15° C. of recovered brine from defroster.

In the third step, the preliminarily condensed refrigerant has been further cooled and condensed into 35 to 40° C. of liquid refrigerant in the brine tank (5). At the same time, the heat generated in the course of condensation can heat the brine to be 35 to 40° C.

In the brine tank (5), remaining liquid refrigerant recovered from evaporator can be heated and converted into vapor refrigerant, which is circulating into compressor.

On the other hand, a defrosting system can be started and operated after shut down of refrigeration system. 35 to 40° C. of heated brine in the brine tank (5) is supplied to brine pipes outside of evaporator (7) using brine circulating pump. Then, the defrost can be made using supplied brine. 4 to 15° C. of cooled brine is preliminarily heated by the heat exchange with water in the condensation heat exchange tank (4). Finally, preliminarily heated brine is recovered into brine tank (5).

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for illustrating 3 stage condensation heat exchangers including tubular tube (3), condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5) of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, 3 stage condensation heat exchangers have the functions of: supplying 90 to 95° C. of high temperature vapor refrigerant from the compressor (1); firstly cooling vapor refrigerant to be 80 to 85° C. through tubular tube (3); heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to be 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank (4); and further heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to be 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank (5).

Further, the heat energy in the condensation heat exchange tank (4) as well as the brine tank (5) can heat the brine to be used for defrosting.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for showing the functions of the condensation heat exchange tank (4) and brine tank (5) of the present invention.

The preliminary heat exchange between condensation heat and water is carried out in the condensation heat exchange tank (4), and the main heat exchange between condensation heat and brine is also carried out in the brine tank (5). Further, brine tank (5) in refrigeration system has a dual function including i) heat exchange between refrigerant and brine; and ii) conversion of remaining liquid refrigerant from evaporator into vapor refrigerant.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for illustrating the refrigeration system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view for illustrating the defrosting system of the present invention.

Defrosting system is operated with the steps comprising: a) supplying brine pipe outside of evaporator (7) with heated brine from brine tank (5); b) defrosting the frost with supplied brine heat; c) recovering the brine from brine pipe to condensation heat exchange tank (4); d) preliminarily heat exchanging the recovered brine with condensation waste heat in the condensation heat exchange tank (4); e) heat exchanging and storing the heated brine in the brine tank (5) to be 35 to 40° C. of brine; and f) repeatedly circulating the brine for operating defrosting system.

The temperature of brine can maintain to be over 15° C. for 24 hours after shut down of refrigeration system. The auxiliary heater can be used for maintaining the brine temperature. The preferred brine is mixture of water and propylene glycol (PG).

The determination of refrigeration operation or defrosting operation can be made by the processor in the control panel after processing the data from sensors. 

1. An energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system through three stage condensation heat exchangers, the system comprising: i) a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration system; ii) a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor; iii) a three stage condensation heat exchanger including a tubular tube, a condensation heat exchange tank and a brine tank; iv) an evaporator, having an outer surface on which frost is generated and defrosted, v) brine circulating in a defrosting system; and vi) a defrosting apparatus including the brine tank; wherein said three stage condensation heat exchanger makes the refrigerant condense in normal refrigeration operation according to steps comprising: a) supplying vapor refrigerant at a temperature of from 90 to 95° C. from the compressor, b) cooling the vapor refrigerant to 80 to 85° C. through the tubular tube, c) preliminarily heat exchanging and condensing the refrigerant to 50 to 60° C. in the condensation heat exchange tank, and d) main heat exchanging and cooling the refrigerant to 35 to 40° C. in the brine tank.
 2. The energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system according to claim 1, wherein the preliminary heat exchanging between condensation heat and water is carried out in the condensation heat exchange tank, and the main heat exchanging between condensation heat and brine is carried out in the brine tank.
 3. The energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system according to claim 1, wherein said brine tank has a dual function in the refrigeration system comprising: i) heat exchange between the refrigerant and the brine; and ii) conversion of remaining liquid refrigerant from the evaporator into vapor refrigerant.
 4. The energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system according to claim 1, wherein said defrosting system is operated according to steps comprising: a) supplying a brine pipe outside of the evaporator with heated brine from the brine tank; b) defrosting the frost with supplied brine heat from the heated brine; c) recovering the brine from the brine pipe into the condensation heat exchange tank; d) preliminarily heat exchanging the recovered brine with condensation waste heat in the condensation heat exchange tank; e) heat exchanging and storing the heated brine in the brine tank to 35 to 40° C.; and f) repeatedly circulating the brine for operating the defrosting system.
 5. The energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system according to claim 1, wherein said brine is a mixture of water and propylene glycol (PG).
 6. The energy saving refrigeration and defrosting system according to claim 1, wherein a determination of refrigeration operation or defrosting operation is made by a processor in a control panel after processing data from sensors. 